In a new move aimed at addressing the growing concerns over illegal immigration and the influx of drugs into the United States, President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday his plans to impose significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Trump’s statements, made on TruthSocial, outlined economic measures to tackle what he described as a “crisis” of crime, drugs, and illegal immigration.
Trump began by addressing the situation at the southern border, where he described an ongoing caravan of migrants traveling through Mexico.
“Thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs at levels never seen before,” he said.
Trump vowed to take immediate action, revealing that on January 20th, one of his first executive orders would be to impose a 25 percent tariff on all products coming from Mexico and Canada. The tariff will remain in place until, he said, “drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country.”
The incoming president made it clear that both Mexico and Canada have the “absolute right and power” to resolve the issues of drug trafficking and illegal immigration. However, he emphasized that until those countries take action to stop the flow of illegal drugs and migrants, they will face economic consequences.
In a following statement, Trump addressed the ongoing problem of fentanyl trafficking from China. He stated that despite numerous discussions with Chinese officials, there has been little progress in curbing the export of the deadly drug to the United States.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of fentanyl being sent into the United States,” he wrote. “But to no avail.”
As a result, he announced an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese products entering the U.S. This tariff will be applied on top of any existing tariffs and will remain in place until China takes more substantial action to halt fentanyl trafficking.
The president-elect’s tough stance on trade continues his administration’s “America First” policy, which focuses on using economic leverage to address national security concerns.
Trump is set take office on January 20 and noon eastern time.
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Christina Botteri is the executive editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.